Could be weeks before some West Kelowna wildfire evacuees can return home: officials
Posted August 28, 2023 11:44 am.
Last Updated August 28, 2023 11:45 am.
As more evacuation orders and alerts are downgraded or lifted in the central Okanagan, officials say it could be a while yet before some people are able to return home and survey damage.
Fire crews say the situation remains too dangerous in some areas, urging patience from those eager to return to their properties.
“In many cases, it will be days or in some cases even weeks before people are able to return to the most devastated spots,” explained West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Brolund Monday.
“I’ve asked that the EOC begin to work on sharing some of those longer timelines to give people a better sense of what they’re looking at.”
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While Monday marked the final planned 10 a.m. media availability for the West Kelowna/McDougall Creek wildfire, officials say the situation remains active.
“There is an ongoing firefight. We’ve heard a lot about planned ignitions — people are going to see smoke and fire, sometimes in what looks like very concerning amounts over the community. But there are a lot of professionals on the ground ready to deal with this. Our primary focus remains getting you home.”
As of Monday morning, the MacDougall Creek wildfire was an estimated 12,635 hectares and still classified as out of control.
Number of properties damaged rises to 189
Brolund says as of Sunday, thousands of people have been able to return home as evacuations were scaled back.
Sally Ginter, chief administrative officer with Central Okanagan Emergency Operations, says as crews have been able to access fire damaged areas, additional assessments have been conducted.
“As we anticipated, additional properties with significant to full loss have been identified, and the number of identified properties has increased from 181 to 189,” she explained.
“Supporting the impacted residents is our priority.”
Ginter says the district is working to connect with residents who have “suffered significant to full loss” of properties with next steps.
“The updated breakdown properties with significant damage to full structure loss is now as follows: Lake Country three, Kelowna four, Westbank First Nation 19, West Kelowna 69, and the Regional District of Central Okanagan West electoral area 94. This number includes Lake Okanagan Resort as a single property. On this property at Lake Okanagan Resort, we have approximately 150 units that have been impacted,” she said.
“Only when it is safe to do so, officials will conduct escorted visits to those owners that have had significant to full structural loss of property in these affected areas.”
Ginter says as the response transitions to recovery, a Resiliency Centre is being created to provide affected residents with additional supports in the weeks and months ahead.
The centre will be located on Westbank First Nation land.
“We know waiting for the status of your property has been very stressful, and it was really important that we shared what we knew when we knew it. We knew this would probably be a two-step process and we were right. Please know that everyone involved, including the wonderful people I’ve had the privilege of working with at the EOC, they’re working as hard as they can to get you as much information, get your home as quickly as possible, and if going home isn’t an option, they’re making sure you have the right supports,” Ginter added.
“In closing, I will just say I have been in the EOC every day since I’ve started. I’ve lost track of the number of happy birthdays we’ve sung for 30 seconds and then quickly got back to work. I’ve lost track of the number of people in that room whose adult children are getting ready to go away to university, and everyone thought they had two more weeks together before that major change. And I know that it’s the same out there. Please know we’re working hard and we’re keeping all of you top of mind.”
Related video: B.C. Premier tours communities impacted by wildfire
The BC Wildfire Service says safety remains top of mind in all efforts. Fire Information Officer Brad Litke says planned ignition work continues, adding it’s this work that has enabled the service to recommend the scaling back of some evacuation orders.
“The purpose of these planned ignitions is to remove unburned fuel in an intentional way to secure these control lines,” he explained. “Based on current conditions this unburned fuel has the potential to burn on its own and in a significant and more active way.”
Officials extended their thanks to the community for the continued support, with Litke saying “we heard you, and you motivate us.”
